Downtown KM restaurant moving

KINGS MOUNTAIN — A steakhouse-style restaurant recently closed in the city, but some of its popular menu items will return.

Battleground Grill closed its doors in October after only a year in business at 222 South Railroad Ave.

That location in the old Plonk building was recently purchased by Robert Bolin, owner of Cherokee Street Tavern, another downtown restaurant.

The Tavern will relocate and expand into the Railroad Avenue spot once occupied by Battleground.

Bolin said the new space can seat 165 customers, an increase from 88 at the current Cherokee Street location.

“This will be good for the community. It will be one of a few places in the area that will have fine dining and good quality food,” he said.

New name, familiar menu items

Cherokee Street Tavern will bear a new name, “238 Cherokee Grille.”

Bolin said he plans to add some of the Battleground Grill's signature items -- including salmon and firecracker shrimp -- to the 238 Cherokee Grille menu. Customers will also have five choices of steaks.

Bolin said he hired former Battleground Grill employees to work at the new Cherokee Grille location, which is expected to open by year's end.

Dishes from Big E’s BBQ will still be offered when the Tavern opens.

A private banquet room on Gold Street, owned by Bolin, is also open for private parties and business training sessions, with catering provided.

What's on tap for Cherokee Street location?

Meanwhile, an Asian-cuisine restaurant and sushi bar is expected to open at the Tavern’s current location on Cherokee Street. Bolin said he talked to customers about dining styles they wanted to see in Kings Mountain.

“It seems most people in the area are looking for a good Asian restaurant with sushi,” he said.

The Asian restaurant could open as early as the end of January 2013, Bolin said.